Get Answers on Test Preparation, Admissions & Campus Life
Study Abroad Countries
How good is SPJIMR's PGDM? I’m looking at the current placement records of over 26L average. Is it performing better than top B-schools like XLRI/FMS/IIM?
SPJIMR has been among the top 5 or 10 B Schools over the past few years consistently. Its brand value can be compared to XLRI, FMS, and even IIMs except for IIM ABC. This is because even now there are some roles offered to IIM ABC students that are not offered at SPJIMR. But this is not a major issue as these roles seek only extraordinary profiles and In Fact, many other roles offered at IIM ABC are lower than average.
In SPJIMR even the lowest package is decent and the range of salary is not very broad. This year, SPJIMR's average package stood at INR 33.02 LPA.
Other key points to note in comparison to old IIMs is that our Highest CTC is lower than that of IIMs but our Lowest CTC is higher than that of IIMs. So I will suggest anyone with an exceptionally good profile to choose IIM whereas someone with a decent average profile should go for SPJIMR only. It is important to note that getting roles at SPJIMR is a bit easier than IIMs mainly because of the small batch size and less competition.
What is the objective of admitting freshers in Ivy B-Schools like IIMs, FMS, JBIMS, SIMSREE, SPJIMR, XLRI, etc.?
MBA admission in Indian B Schools is a fairly weird process in comparison to that of foreign B Schools. In India, the admission process requires a candidate to have some work experience and in certain B-schools, it even carries a certain weightage. But during Final Placements, this scenario changes entirely as the recruiters prefer freshers over experienced candidates. The major reasons for this contrast are:
- The recruiters offering Marketing roles are on the lookout for candidates who can initially go through a sales job for a few years. They believe that the route to Marketing is through sales only. Now Sales requires a lot of traveling that too to rural areas. The recruiters know that these tough job conditions cannot be undertaken by Experienced professionals and thus prefer freshers who they can mold easily.
- The companies offering Finance roles know that the candidates with prior work experience won’t be working for the long hours they require them to. So they prefer freshers who can work long hours without complaining.
Recruiters are looking for candidates with work experience of not more than 11-12 months. Honestly, this strategy is illogical as a person with more work experience is bound to excel much better than a fresher, and restricting him from getting a job just because they cannot be exploited to the fullest extent is a bit cruel.
The scenario is pretty much the opposite in foreign countries that prefer MBA candidates with work experience only. This is because in India MBA is considered a way to become more employable or earn a fatter cheque. Whereas in the West, it is a means to upgrade your career and take it to new heights. The entire concept of MBA is at fault in India thereby this illogical strategy.
In my opinion, MBA candidates should have a work experience of at least 1 year, only then they can harness the MBA program to the fullest and not approach it just as a source of placements.
Will I be eligible for an MBA in A grade B schools like IIMs XLRI, NMIMS, JBIMS, etc., with scores of 90.6 in the 10th standard and 70 in the 12th standard?
As a candidate with a lower academic performance in the past, you are eligible for most of the business schools, except for a few, such as the Indian Institutes of Management in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, and Lucknow, which place a greater emphasis on previous academic records. However, XLRI is good news for you, as it does not consider your previous academics when shortlisting candidates. Additionally, SPJain may consider extending you a profile-based admission offer if your CAT score is at least 85 or higher and you have something unique in your profile. Other top business schools, such as NITIE Mumbai, MDI, and NMIMS, are easily within reach for you.
It is recommended that you focus on making the most of your current educational journey and not let your past academic performance impact your future opportunities. Aim to prepare well for the CAT exam, aiming for a top score, and accumulate as many quality resume points as possible to develop a unique and impressive profile for yourself. However, do not forget to live the life of an engineer, taking full advantage of your education. If you gain at least 2 years of work experience, you may consider taking the GMAT and applying to the Indian School of Business, which may consider extending you an admission offer.
Can I get into IIMs, XLRI, FMS, SIBM, SPJIMR, IIFT, MDI? I have 70/61/77 in 10th/12th/B.Com. What CAT percentile would be required to get a call and how to improve my profile?
Based on your past academic records, you are likely to get into top IIMs only with a very high CAT score. Honestly, your academic performance is average and IIMs especially give a lot of weightage to past academics. However, you can target IIM Shillong and elite Non-IIM b-schools such as FMS and MDI.
The best part of these Non-IIM B-Schools is their less weightage given to past academics during shortlisting. They focus the most on your CAT score. So anyone with an average profile can dream of getting into these schools by preparing for CAT sincerely and acing the exam.
Institutes like XLRI and IIFT focus a lot more on the entrance exam scores (around 60%) than your past academics. The other major parameters they give relative weightage to are work experience, GD/PI, and WAT performance. So choosing a B School like FMS, MDI, IIFT, XLRI, or JBIMS is a lot better for someone with your profile.
How to improve your profile:
Past Academics are not the only determining factor during admission. In fact, many B Schools give the least weightage to it. So the question is how can someone with an average profile up their scale and improve their profile? The 3 common ways are
- Gain some valid work experience (up to 3 years max)
- Pursue a hobby or passion in your leisure time
- Learn some professional skills
The CAT percentile required for some B schools you mentioned are
|
B School |
Percentile Required |
|
IIM Ahmedabad |
99.97+ |
|
IIM Calcutta |
99.99+ |
|
IIM Bangalore |
99.99+ |
|
IIM Lucknow |
99.8+ |
|
IIM Kozhikode |
99.9+ |
|
IIM Shillong |
96.80+ |
|
New IIMs |
94.00+ |
|
FMS |
99.40+ |
How good is JBIMS as compared to IIMs, XLRI, and FMS in regard to faculty, placements, alumni, etc.?
You are advised to choose wisely when it comes to selecting the top MBA colleges. Most of the top colleges have excellent faculty who are experts in their fields and students highly appreciate their teachings. The alumni network is a crucial factor to consider, and it is best to speak to students and alumni of the colleges to get a better understanding.
The top-of-the-line MBA colleges include IIMs A, B, and C, which are considered untouchable at the moment. XLRI stands out for its HR batch, the opportunities it offers, and its excellent course structure.
If you are comparing FMS, JBIMS, and XLRI BM, you can consider your interest and preference. The author is biased towards JBIMS as her husband is from that college and she has close connections with the students and alumni. However, if you get admitted to XLRI BM, it is a great brand to be associated with, especially if you are interested in finance.
When it comes to choosing between JBIMS and FMS, you can opt for JBIMS if you are sure about pursuing finance, else you can choose either. Among the IIMs, the author rates IIM L above JBIMS and FMS and considers JBIMS and FMS above IIM I and K.
It is suggested not to rely on the ROI concept, as the benefits of a good education cannot be gauged in one year and do not follow arithmetic progression rules. Instead, you should look at the opportunities offered by the college and how it fits into your plan. Do not base your decision solely on rankings posted in newspapers and magazines or the highest packages offered during placement.
How much do the top B-schools like the IIMs FMS, MDI, XLRI, SP JAIN, JBIMS, IIFT, and NITIE inflate their placement reports?
In the placement process, it is not always the B-Schools that are responsible for reporting inflated packages, but rather the companies. The figure reported by placement cells is referred to as the "Cost to Company" (CTC) and not the take-home salary. This means that simply dividing the CTC by 12 is not an accurate reflection of what you will receive in your bank account each month.
CTC consists of two main components: fixed and variable. The fixed component includes your basic salary, HRA, TA, LTA, employer's contribution to the provident fund, joining bonus, retention bonuses, and ESOPs. The variable component is based on both your performance and the company's performance and is paid out in lump sums either yearly or half-yearly.
Your take-home salary at the end of each month is calculated as basic salary + HRA + TA + other allowances - provident fund deduction - tax. The remaining amount is given to you at the end of the year. To illustrate how companies may inflate their CTC figures, here are a few examples:
- Amazon:
Fixed component: 9 lakhs
Year 1 end retention bonus: 2 lakhs
Year 2 end retention bonus: 1.5 lakhs
ESOP: 5 lakhs to be paid over 3 years
Performance bonus: separate/not reported CTC: 17.5 lakhs
Take-home salary: 65-70k
- Goldman Sachs:
Fixed component + Variable component: 14.5 lakhs
Relocation: 2,00,000 INR (one-time payment)
Supplemental Salary: 3,50,000 INR (supplemental salary is an accrued bonus paid out in monthly installments pro-rated from the date of joining, only applicable during the first year of joining)
CTC: 20 lakhs
Take-home salary: 95-98k
- RBS India Development Center (Royal Bank of Scotland back-end):
Fixed component: 9 lakhs
Variable component: 10-20% of a fixed component
CTC: 10.8 lakhs
Take-home salary: 65-68k
As seen from the examples, despite Amazon having a CTC that is double that of RBS IDC, their take-home salary is the same. This is the typical way it works. The placement teams likely do not have much control over the process.
Why is JBIMS and not IIM A or XLRI, known as the “CEO Factory of India”?
It can be affirmatively stated that JBIMS is considered one of the best business schools in India. The trio of IIM A/B/C holds a distinct brand value compared to other top colleges in the country and globally. The brand recognition and respect of the IIM institutes have increased due to its status as an "Institutes of National Importance" and the widespread accomplished alumni base both in and outside of India.
JBIMS boasts an impressive list of notable alumni, including Vinita Bali, the Managing Director of Britannia, Lalita D. Gupte, Chairperson of ICICI Venture Funds Management Company, and Chanda Kochhar, Managing Director & CEO of ICICI Bank, India, just to name a few. Moreover, the Managing Directors and CEOs of some of India's largest companies such as ICICI, HUL, Kotak Mahindra, and Piramal are alumni of JBIMS.
Do students from IIM/FMS/JBIMS/SPJIMR/IIFT/XLRI bunk classes like engineering students?
At IIM/FMS/JBIMS/SPJIMR/IIFT/XLRI, attendance is seen as a crucial aspect of the learning experience. Every effort must be made to be present in class and to participate actively in the discussions. In fact, class participation is considered to be such an important factor in determining grades that a significant portion of the total course weightage is allocated to it. This system is in place to encourage students to be engaged in the learning process and to ensure that they are taking full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them.
On the other hand, at IIT Kanpur, there is a more relaxed approach to attendance. While it is still advisable to attend classes and to be present for lectures, there is no strict requirement in place. This gives students more flexibility and allows them to choose when they want to attend classes based on their personal schedules or other commitments. It also means that engineering students are not penalized if they miss a class or two, as long as they are able to make up for it by participating in other ways, such as completing assignments or preparing for exams.
Overall, both B-schools and Engineering colleges have different approaches to attendance and class participation. While IIM Ahmedabad places a strong emphasis on being present in class and participating actively, IIT Kanpur takes a more relaxed approach. Ultimately, the choice between the two institutions will depend on the individual student's preferences and learning style.
What are the prospects of pursuing an MBA in Marketing from IIMs, JBIMS, XLRI, MICA, or SIBM, with poor academics, and how can one compensate for the same?
Your poor academic record can be a major hindrance, especially in summer placements because the companies know you haven’t done anything major yet in the B School. So I will suggest you some tips that might help you compensate for your low 12th class marks and get you a good internship offer
- Enroll in an online course as this might be a major topic of discussion in the interview. It should preferably be an advanced version of your current course or a unique course.
- Get involved in volunteer work at NGOs. This will not only prove to be beneficial during your interview but also will help you become a part of social service committees on campus.
- Master a new language preferably French, Mandarin or Spanish as this may increase your chances of getting International placement or foreign exchange.
- Look for internships that offer practical knowledge for a short period of time.
As far as the Final Placements are concerned, you will have to improve your profile to attract the best recruiters. Some tips to improve your general profile are
- Rather than focusing on your past academics, focus on the new phase of your life and give your best
- Go for courses that offer live projects as recruiters highly prefer such exposure. Sometimes even the on-campus committees offer such live projects. Many times the winners of such projects get amazing PPOs or cash prizes.
- Joining a good on-campus committee is beneficial not only in maintaining a good campus life but also improving your overall profile. You get amazing exposure by interacting with industry professionals in the corporate world during events and conferences.
- If you are skilled at writing, do the same for business magazines or websites.
All this will help you make the most out of your MBA experience and also improve your profile enough to attract the best placement offers. The only key is to work hard relentlessly.
Do you know anyone who got into a top b-school (IIMs, XLRI, JBIMS, NM, IIFT, FMS etc.) with average UG percentage?
Yes, I do know a friend who managed to get calls from many top B Schools despite having an average Undergraduate Score. Her profile looked like this
- 10th- 76%
- 12th- 68%
- UG- 64%
Although her marks witnessed a gradual decline, she was lucky enough to study at XLRI. Past academics are considered as one but not the major factors at XLRI, unlike IIMs that focus a lot on past academics. A good XAT and GD-PI score can compensate for your poor academic record at XLRI, FMS, and JBIMS. NITIE is a top B School that does not consider past academics at all. My friend with her average profile managed to convert NITIE, XIMB, and all the IIMs except for the top ones obviously. So we can safely assume that admission into these top B Schools is possible even with an average profile provided that you score excellently in the CAT or XAT and the GDPI round.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER
